Vibrant Vietnam: A 7-Day City Experience

1. Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) - District 1
   15 minutes (7.5km) from Tan Son Nhat International Airport

   Visit the historic Notre Dame Cathedral, the stunning Central Post Office designed by Gustave Eiffel, and the iconic Ben Thanh Market for local delights.

2. Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City - District 5 and 7
   30 minutes (6km) from District 1

   Explore the Binh Tay Market and Thien Hau Temple in District 5. Followed by Starlight Bridge and Crescent Mall in District 7's Phu My Hung - a westernized dining and shopping hub.

3. Day 3: Hanoi - Ba Dinh District
   35 minutes (29km) from Noi Bai International Airport

   Walk around Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Stilt House, and Presidential Palace. Visit Temple of Literature, the first University in Vietnam, and One Pillar Pagoda, the historic symbol of Vietnam.

4. Day 4: Hanoi - Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake
   10 minutes (2.7km) from Ba Dinh District

   Get lost in the ancient street maze in the Old Quarter and enjoy traditional handicrafts, local street foods, and French colonial architectures. Witness water puppetry and explore Ngoc Son Temple in the middle of the peaceful Hoan Kiem Lake.

5. Day 5: Hue - Citadel and Imperial City
   25 minutes (14km) from Hue Airport

   Discover the ancient beauty of the Imperial City and Forbidden Purple City, and get a glimpse of the royal life through their ancient architectures and museums.

6. Day 6: Hue - Tombs and Perfume River
   15 minutes (9km) from the Citadel

   Cruise the Perfume River and visit Thien Mu Pagoda, the most iconic pagoda in Hue. Followed by exploring the majestic Khải Định Tomb and Tu Duc Tomb, among other royal tombs.

7. Day 7: Da Nang - Beaches and City view
   2 hours 30 minutes (100km) from Hue

   Relax by the beach at My Khe Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and enjoy scenic views on the way to the city. Explore the spectacular Dragon Bridge and the famous Love Bridge. End the tour by admiring the breathtaking city view from the Ban Co Peak.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Notre Dame Cathedral (30 mins, free admission)
• Central Post Office (30 mins, free admission)
• Ben Thanh Market (1-2 hours, free admission)
• Binh Tay Market (1-2 hours, free admission)
• Thien Hau Temple (1 hour, free admission)
• Starlight Bridge and Crescent Mall (2-3 hours, free admission)
• Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex (2-3 hours, 40,000 VND)
• Temple of Literature (1 hour, 30,000 VND)
• One Pillar Pagoda (30 mins, 40,000 VND)
• Water Puppetry Theater (1 hour, 100,000-200,000 VND)
• Ngoc Son Temple (30 mins, 20,000 VND)
• Imperial City and Forbidden Purple City (3-4 hours, 150,000 VND)
• Khải Định Tomb (1-2 hours, 150,000 VND)
• Tu Duc Tomb (1-2 hours, 150,000 VND)
• My Khe Beach (2-3 hours, free admission)
• Dragon Bridge (30 mins, free admission)
• Love Bridge (30 mins, free admission)
• Ban Co Peak (1 hour, free admission)
• Total Estimated Costs: 840,000 - 1,020,000 VND (~36-46 USD)

Useful tips

For a more adventurous trip, add a day in Sapa to the north for trekking and hill-tribe experiences. For a more relaxing trip, subtract a day from Hue and spend it cruising in Ha Long Bay to the east.